ADVOCACY 201 TRAINING: GET ORGANIZED

Two glassblowers are featured in the background.
In this month's Artivist Town Hall, Ami Bennitt, Annis Sengupta, and Jim Grace discussed the artists displacement crisis we are experiencing in Massachusetts and what we can do about it.
In this town hall, we provided the latest updates about federal-level arts advocacy and the outcome of the State Senate's FY26 Budget.
On Friday, May 2, 2025, the Trump Administration continued its efforts to dismantle public investments and access to arts and culture through the cancellation of already approved arts project grants and by proposing the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in their FY26 Budget proposal.
The Advocacy 301: Do’s and Don’ts training is designed to help participants understand how they can legally engage in advocacy and lobbying to assume stronger roles in civic life.
On April 16th, we welcomed Representative Sean Garballey (D-Arlington), the new House Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development to our Artivist Town Hall. Rep. Garballey shared about his role within the committee, how committee members review and consider bills, and what advocates ought to know to advance their policy issues.
The Advocacy 201 training builds on the foundation of the Advocacy 101 session. In Advocacy 201, we will prepare you to take the lead in organizing your networks and communities. We’ll cover how to turn your network into an advocacy powerhouse, coordinate advocacy meetings with your elected officials, and use your social media platforms to help folks take action on the things you care about most.
2025 Somerville mayoral candidates participate in a Somerville Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture.
2025 Boston mayoral candidates participate in a Boston Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture.
In July 2025, the House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability held an oversight hearing on the impacts of federal funding cuts to cultural organizations.
Emily Ruddock, MASSCreative’s executive director, shares updates about some of our grassroots organizing and legislative achievements in 2024 and a glimpse of what we are preparing for 2025.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, MASSCreative welcomed 11 individuals into the 2024-2025 Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship during an in-person orientation at the Worcester Public Library.
Read Richeline's blog about attending the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. and how artists can play a role in strengthening communities and democracy.